Elevating performing arts education through strengthening teachers’ instructional capacity and enhancing students’ exposure to professional performing arts,

In 2020, Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports introduced a competency-based curriculum for lower secondary students to address gaps in knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for professional success. The new curriculum introduced new subjects, one of which is Performing Arts. However, implementation of the new curriculum continues to face significant challenges, particularly the limited capacity of teachers to implement the new approach effectively.

This Program addresses these challenges by leveraging the expertise of Bantu Cultural Troupe, which has over 12 years of experience in performing arts, to strengthen schools’ ability to deliver high-quality, practical arts instruction.

Through a structured six-month training course, experienced troupe performers are transformed into certified Performing Arts Trainers. The training course, which is also open to school teachers and graduates from arts institutions, equips them with specialized pedagogical and performance skills tailored to the new curriculum. These certified Trainers are then integrated into partner schools to support teachers in delivering the Performing Arts Curriculum. They continue to advance their professional growth through annual refresher sessions and participation in troupe productions, ensuring continuous learning and relevance.

Beyond classroom capacity-building, the program partners with schools to organize subsidized and joint performances. These events not only enhance students’ exposure to the performing arts but also inspire them to aim at reaching the professional standards demonstrated by the Bantu Cultural Troupe.

Ultimately, this initiative strengthens the implementation of Uganda’s competency-based curriculum while enriching arts education, nurturing creativity, and empowering the next generation of culturally grounded, critically minded learners.